From left: Johan Buse, Luis Garcia and Shaun Wright-Phillips. PHOTOS: V.K. Santosh Kumar
More than 8,000 fans have registered for the biggest night of football, taking place on 19 May 2024 at Marina Bay Sands, Level 5 Sands Grand Ballroom.
Doors to StarHub’s “Football for All” Carnival will open at 7.30pm, followed by exciting live English Premier League (EPL) matches starting at 11pm.
With StarHub the exclusive broadcaster of the Premier League, the carnival will offer fans the ultimate viewing experience with complimentary live screenings of all 10 matches on the final day of the season, including Liverpool vs Wolves, Manchester City vs West Ham United and Arsenal vs Everton.
From the heart-stopping tackles to the euphoric goal celebrations, fans can savour every thrilling moment on the big screen, surrounded by the electrifying energy of fellow football enthusiasts.
But the excitement doesn’t end there – attendees will also get to see and meet two of the most influential and celebrated football players of all time, Luis Garcia (Liverpool) and Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea and Manchester City).
A special meet-and-greet will be held at 9pm. The legends will be holding court on opposite sides of the stage, where all guests will have a chance to queue, rub shoulders and take a photo.
This promises to be a highlight of the event, offering football fans a memorable experience.
Additionally, TV presenter Edward Russell, Futbolita founder Ash Hasim and sports presenter Ross Sarpani will be hosting the event, guaranteeing a vibrant and engaging viewing experience of the season’s final showdowns.
In line with StarHub’s “Football for All” initiative, the carnival presents a lineup brimming with entertainment for everyone, whether you’re a die-hard supporter or a casual observer.
There are free treats and attractive prizes up for grabs. Attendees can also enjoy a variety of fun activities, including airbrush tattoos, claw machines, friendly foosball games and “speed goal” where fans can show off their very own football skills.
StarHub’s head of the Consumer Business Group Johan Buse told the media on May 17 during a roundtable with Garcia and Wright-Phillips at StarHub’s brand-new offices at Ubi that the broadcaster has been doing a lot to make viewing a pleasure for EPL fans in Singapore.
“We have been doing a lot in terms of pricing, reducing the price points for customer satisfaction,” he said. “We are also providing modern technology or the best there is with a bunch of features.
“A lot of the things we have been doing over the last two years by now are first in the world. Not many have had the audacity to run it the way we’ve done.
And importantly, we have brought it closer to the fans, and make sure that fans can experience Premier League a little bit beyond just watching in a box at home.”
According to Buse, StarHub has doing “quite a lot of events in the last 12 months”.
“I would say we’re at the eve of our pinnacle of events,” he said. “So on Sunday, we’ve got almost close to 8,000 registrations, and it’s to the best of our knowledge the first time in the world that anyone is going to show the 10 games live simultaneously.
“So people can come and meet fans of their favourite team and also their rivals’. We have noticed that sometimes up to 5,000 people come to our events.
“Football is all about passion. At a large venue it’s a different atmosphere as there are fans supporting different teams. And you have a big screen and a wonderful sound system. It’s just a different dimension. This event is quite an important one we want to give to Singapore.”
Garcia said it is important to inspire the new generation and what comes with football.
“It is always exciting to inspire the young generation to follow a sport and to keep up with it,” said the former Spanish winger, 45, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005. “Of course, Starhub has done an amazing job with football, and Sunday’s will a great event. Football should be part of everyone as a sport, and also because we all love it.”
Former English international and winger Wright-Phillips, 42, said “football is a game that brings a lot of smiles and happiness”.
“Obviously, there will be sad moments or disappointment, but more often you will laugh, whether it’s a decision or a goal disallowed,” he said.
“For me, football is massive. It brings so much diversity to the table. It’s just a universal language, and StarHub’s “Football for All” Carnival is perfect as it will bring 20 different fan bases together in one spot. Which very rarely ever happens. It’s incredible to get 8,000 fans together at the same time. It’s a lot, so I’m really looking forward to being part of that.”
Admission to the “Football for All” Carnival is free. However, due to limited space, fans are encouraged to register at https://www.starhub.com/personal/bundles/football-carnival.html to secure their spot. Admission is strictly by registration.
Event Details
Date: Sunday, 19 May 2024
Time: From 7.30 pm onwards (1 pm kick-off time for all matches)
Venue: Marina Bay Sands, Level 5 Sands Grand Ballroom
